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ZBA grants Citizens Bank sign variance with safety condition after revised plan
Summary
Woburn City Zoning Board of Appeals granted a variance allowing Citizens Bank to replace a ground sign at 6 Russell Street with a smaller structure, subject to a condition that the old sign foundation and electrical be removed or made safe; vote passed 4–1.
The Woburn City Zoning Board of Appeals voted 4–1 to grant a variance allowing Citizens Bank to replace a ground sign at 6 Russell Street, after the applicant submitted a smaller design and the board attached a safety-related condition.
Heather Dedko, a sign installer representing the applicant, told the board the proposed replacement is smaller than the originally proposed sign: 62 square feet and 21 feet overall height, down from a previous proposal of about 100 square feet and roughly 30 feet tall. Dedko said the new sign would keep roughly the same 3.2–3.3 foot front setback as the existing sign and would move slightly to the right on the site to increase the side setback to about 10.4 feet from the existing 7.2 feet.
The board discussed whether an earlier variance had been recorded for the existing sign; staff said there was an earlier application on file but no recorded record of a variance. Member Ryan reviewed last month’s hearing materials and certified he was eligible to vote despite having missed the earlier meeting. A member of the public, who identified himself as Mark, asked that the board require the old foundation be removed below grade and that all electrical be disconnected and capped so nothing remained exposed.
The motion to grant the variance included a condition addressing safety and site remediation; the chair announced the motion passed 4–1. The board directed that a written decision be prepared and filed with the clerk’s office and reminded the applicant that no building permit will issue until the appeal period expires without an appeal being filed.
The board’s staff clarified during the hearing that the 3.3-foot leading-edge setback proposed for the new sign approximates the existing nonconforming location that has been in place for over 30 years. Dedko said installers will pour a new foundation for the replacement sign rather than reuse the old foundation.
The decision will be effective only after the statutory appeal period elapses and the written decision is filed with the city clerk.
